Tired of the Jersey Shore, tell me it's not true We just returned from a few days at Geneva on the Lake on Lake Seneca, staying at the Belhurst Castle, (new wing built in 2007) and Watkins Glen Harbor. We toured the wineries around the lake...pretty fun but don't know if a kid would like it unless you could incorporate a sailboat ride into it. I saw one in Watkins Glen that took Passengers.

Have you been to Niagara Falls before? If not, I recommend, Cave of the Winds in Goat Island on the US side: http://www.niagarafallslive.com/goat_island_in_niagara_falls_new_york.htm but stay on the Canadian Side in a room with a Falls view, We love Embassy Suites with a Fallsview room! Once on the Canadian side, Maid of the Mist is a must! You can also drive to Niagara on the Lake for a day and Toronto is also not far.

Cooperstown for the baseball Hall of Fame. Lots of other things to do near there too.

What month? What is the age of the child?
A couple of ideas: Knobels Grove amusement park, Elysburg PA, the Little League World Series in South Williamsport, in late August and the Corning Museum of Glass in Corning, NY. These are all great places to take a child.

Do you hike? You'll pass by/though some really lovely hiking and fishing areas in the Susquehannock and Allegheny forests.

Go from Philly to Pittsburgh.
TONS of things to see and do.
Then off to Niagara Falls.
Enjoy!

Hi Twinlke, Did you get out this summer?
I am saddened that Knobel's Grove Amusement Park has been devastated by flooding from Irene followed by the remnants of Lee. I am hoping that the new owners can re-open next spring.
The only high point for central PA was the win by California in the Little League World Series championship game.

I would do the drive in one day with a 2-3 break about mid-way there. It's not THAT far.

Gone for "about five days" means a good part of a day to get there and a good part to return.

You could reach Binghamton NY (or one of the many parks just north of it, if you're making good time) in about 3-1/2 hours (at about lunch time), lunch, relax in a park or something low-key. From there it's roughly 4 more hours to Niagara Falls, Ontario and you're checked into you hotel by 6pm or so.

Then you have three FULL days in the area.

If you changed your plan to "about 7 days" (or even 6), you could stay in Niagara Falls for just two nights and also spend a some time in Toronto (if you havn't been before) - a VERY worthwhile destination.

There's really no world class destinations between Philadelphia and Niagara Falls without significant detours that add significant miles and driving time, IMHO, just some nice spots worthy of a few hours break. Again, IMHO.

DUH!

"...would do the drive in one day with a 2-3 HOUR break about mid-way there...

Knobels will be opening on April 28. http://www.knoebels.com/
If you wanted to go by way of US 6 through the northern tier of PA, You could stay in the lovely town I was born in: Wellsboro.
One of my High School teachers named the Pine Creek Gorge "Pennsylvania's Grand Canyon".